Brain-Computer Interfaces, Organoids, and mRNA

We were fortunate to attend the TED 2022 conference in Vancouver last week. TED always delivers on thought-provoking sessions, from Bill Gates’ perspective on how to avoid the next pandemic to the latest in vegan leather (made from mushrooms, virtually indistinguishable from the cow kind, and now price-competitive).

Here are three life sciences innovation highlights from the conference. Since most of the TED 2022 talks are not yet available online, we have included links to alternative support materials.

1. Tom Oxley MD Ph.D., Founder & CEO at Synchron

Tom and his team have developed a novel Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) that works through the blood vessels that feed the brain. This ingenious approach bypasses the need to cut through the skull and attach an implant to brain tissue. In ongoing human trials, patients with severe paralysis have been able to text, email, and – yes – tweet. This is achieved by having patients ‘think’ about simple limb movements, with the resulting brain activity driving cursor movements. Synchron’s advisory board includes a former co-founder of Neuralink, Elon Musk’s own BCI company...

Source: Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. https://synchron.com/

https://www.freethink.com/health/brain-computer-interface-2 2. Sergiu Pasca Ph.D., Researcher at Stanford University

Sergiu’s lab has been able to grow clumps of neurons in a lab. These so-called brain organoids can be used as miniature circuits to study the effects of various therapies on the brain and ultimately accelerate the treatment of disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Brain organoids are created by first sampling skin cells from a patient, which are then turned into stem cells, and from stem cells into neurons – a remarkable process. On stage, Sergiu demonstrated a more complicated three-part circuit. By combining organoids made from three different types of cells – cerebral cortex, spinal cord, and muscle – his lab was able to model how the human brain triggers muscle movement. Far more sophisticated models of how our nervous system works are being developed. Growing human brain cells in a laboratory raises significant ethical questions, of course. Sergiu and other scientists are discussing the appropriate protocols that will govern future research. Regardless, we predict an ample supply of both breakthrough science and escalating controversy in the coming years. https://www.pascalab.org/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41596-021-00632-z

3. Melissa Moore Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Moderna

The Covid-19 vaccine was the first significant breakthrough medicine developed using messenger ribonucleic acid, aka mRNA. While doubts remain as to the broader therapeutic potential of mRNA, it is seemingly useful as a fast and effective approach to vaccine development. Melissa and her team at Moderna are exploring whether mRNA can be used to develop an effective vaccine for many types of cancer. Scientists are looking to identify protein features that are present exclusively in certain tumors. They can then generate RNA coding specific to these cancerous cells, which they would inject into the patient's bloodstream to trigger an immune response exclusive to tumor cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. This is a similar mechanism to how the FDA-approved mRNA Covid-19 vaccine works, albeit applied to a far more complex disease. Moderna is also working on a once-a-year shot that would cover the seasonal flu, latest Covid variants, and other relevant respiratory viruses. That would undoubtedly be good for Moderna's business, while also a potentially effective prophylactic against future pandemics that would save countless lives. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/moderna-scientist-on-making-medicine-from-RNA.html

...and a couple of palate cleansers:

1. Dan Harris, Meditation Dan Harris is a former ABC News anchor that once made the news for an on-air panic attack in front of five million people. In the years since his debacle, Dan has reinvented himself as a meditation advocate. He is a self-described skeptic, (recovering) narcissist, and former drug user. Dan’s talk was a funny and engaging take on how to use meditation to improve your personal and professional life and relationships, without, as he puts it, the touchy-feely stuff. We can relate. Dan's panic attack and discovery of meditation

2. Elon Musk, Twitter, Tesla, and how his brain works Elon has garnered a lot of attention for, well, being Elon Musk. While this wide-ranging interview with TED CEO Chris Anderson covers Elon's bid for Twitter, the future of Tesla, and other topics, we were most interested in seeing first-hand how Elon thinks and acts in real-time, without a script. From inappropriate jokes to airing old gripes, some insight into the human being behind the social media persona. Elon at TED 2022

Other TED 2022 talks will gradually become available at https://www.ted.com/talks.